Supporting victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation through improving the services provided by the rehabilitation centre Atoll and shelter Vega

This project aims to support female victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation. Estonia is currently country of origin for human trafficking, but also transit country and to a very small extent, destination country. Most victims are women who are exploited in prostitution whether in Estonia or abroad Estonian women are trafficked to Finland, Sweden, United Kingdom, Germany, Italy Greece, Spain, and Norway. A small number of women from Russia, Moldova, Belarus, and Latvia have been trafficked also to Estonia In Estonia, the hidden economy and the possibility for sexual exploitation are both conducive for organised crime. Women in prostitution are controlled by pimps that have links with traffickers therefore enabling both cross-border and internal trafficking in women 6. For some tourists Estonia is a destination for sex tourism, and this also supports the spread of sexual exploitation of women. Even though the concepts of prostitution and human trafficking are not synonymous, it is important to monitor the prostitution market carefully to be able to identify trafficking victims, as researchers but also international organisations have come to the conclusion that the reasons for trafficking in women and prostitution are to a great extent the same, and also the health consequences for women are overlapping. NGO Eluliin, the only organisation providing such thorough and diverse services for sexually exploited women in Estonia follows the same principle and works with all the women in prostitution, at the same time identifying and supporting trafficking victims. In 2008, 55 female victims of trafficking were identified in Estonia, in 2009 78, and in 2010 578. Additionally, support was given to women involved in prostitution who were not identified as trafficking victims, for example in 2010, 128 women received some kind of support, whether acute counselling or they participated in rehabilitation and post-rehabilitation programs9 In 2009, 607 visits to Eluliin’s ATOLL Centre took place, in 2010. When it comes to victims, the situation of women trafficked for sexual exploitation is serious and demands high-quality services and full attention. In 2006 Pettai et al interviewed 408 women involved in prostitution, 85% of whom were aged under One-half of them were aged 16-18 when they got involved in prostitution, which means they were exploited already while being minors. The researchers found that violence is a relatively unavoidable phenomenon in the lives of women involved in prostitution: two-thirds have experienced psychological, one-third physical and 15% sexual violence since their childhood, and every fourth woman has been raped one or more times in their lives. Almost all sexually exploited women suffer from health problems, some of which are long-term, and many contemplate suicide. One-half of the women interviewed in 2006had experienced sexual violence and more than one-half had suffered violence within a month before the survey, i.e. recently. The study carried out in 2005 indicated that women involved in prostitution were exposed to a very high risk of violence, more than one-half (59%) had experienced psychological violence such as offensive remarks and humiliation, 42% women had been beaten and one-third had been raped. The tests carried out by the National Institute for Health Development Report with a proposal for a European Parliament recommendation to the Council on fighting trafficking in human beings - an integrated approach and proposals for an action plan (2006/2078(INI)) European Parliament session document A6-0368/2006showed that 7.7% of the target group of their study was HIV positive and 7.3% tested positive for hepatitis C16. It is a very serious public health issue and not only from the viewpoint of the women themselves. The men who buy sex do not care whether the women is victim of human trafficking ornot, and they spread the infections to their other sexual partners, e.g. their wives or live-in partners.Regarding victim support, situation in Estonia has changed a lot since 2005. In 2005, two international projects started, the Nordic-Baltic pilot project on safe return and reintegration of women victims of sexual exploitation (2005-2008), and the EU cooperation project EQUAL, titled “Integration of women involved in prostitution including victims of human trafficking into the legal labour market”(2005-2008). The Nordic-Baltic project aimed at reinforcing the capacity and improving the models for the support and rehabilitation of victims of trafficking in and between the Nordic and Baltic countries. Nordic-Baltic Regional Network was created and three special shelters were opened in Estonia to support victims returning home. Today, two of them are still operating, providing safe place and support for victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation (one in Tallinn and one in Ida-Virumaa, the one in Tallinn operated by Eluliin). In the framework of EQUAL project, social and psychological rehabilitation centre Atoll for prostituted/trafficking persons was opened by Eluliin. Wide range of support services are being provided there. Most services and shelters are financed by the state and local government, but development possibilities are lacking due to the lack of resources. Therefore it is important to finance this project that enables new services and new research on the issue of sexual exploitation. Also, annual US Trafficking in Persons report downgraded Estonia from Tier 2 to Tier 2 Watch list in 2011, one of the reasons being that The Government of Estonia demonstrated decreased victimprotection efforts during the reporting period 20. It was reported that a high number of victims disappeared after pre-trial investigations, and that victims of trafficking were afraid to cooperate with the police or testify in court. Recommendation was to increase victim protections during trial, and to consider incorporating NGOs into law enforcement interviews. To achieve that, better and more professional support services are needed from NGO side.

Objectives and expected outcome(s) of the Project

The project’s objective is to develop broad-based support for women victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation.

Expected outcomes of this project:

More diverse and effective rehabilitation services for victims of trafficking and women at risk of being trafficked. Explanation - if new services (self-help groups and mother-child groups) for trafficking victims and for women at risk are developed, tested and evaluated, rehabilitation and trafficking prevention becomes more effective;

Competent professionals who work with human trafficking cases and provide support for victims of sexual exploitation. Explanation – if specialists receive proper training and improve their cooperation skills, theywill be more competent for dealing with trafficking cases and victims;

New inputs created for positive changes in national legislation. Explanation – if new strong impulses and science-based proposals to ministries and ohter relevant parties are presented, they are taken into account while creating new policies in Directive 2011/36/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 April 2011 on preventing andcombating trafficking in human beings and protecting its victims, and replacing Council Framework Decision 2002/629/JHA, national level regarding trafficking for sexual exploitation.

The sustainability of the project is supported by many factors. Eluliin is the only organisation on a national level who is offering such complex set of rehabilitation services for women victims of human trafficking for sexual exploitation. For financing such services, support is provided by the government since 2009 (from the beginning, 2005-2008, services were financed partly by government, partly by EU funds). Eluliin has proved its professionalism and reliability, therefore acting as trustworthy partner to government, and will continue doing this in the future. Eluliin is a member of national anti-trafficking working group and participated in working groups composing both the Development Plan for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings 2006-2009, and the new Development Plan for Reducing Violence for the years 2010-2014, covering trafficking prevention and support for victims as well. Eluliin’s input into national policies is constant and continues also in the future.What also helps to guarantee the sustainability of project’s activities is the fact that Estonia is member of several international treaties obliging states to provide certain support for victims of human trafficking. Eluliin is the suitable partner with proper experience being able to provide for implementing these articles.

Activities and results of the Project

Activities and results of the project are following:

Activity 1 - Study on the possibility of drafting reliable and valid formulas to evaluate the moral damage caused to the victims of human trafficking and assess the size of compensation to victims Sub-activity

Sub-activity 1.1 - Establishment of the research team of experts.

Sub-activity 1.2 - Establishment of the systematic team work (work will take place in roundtables, and also individual work is foreseen), data collection, analysis.

Sub-activity 1.3 - Analysis of collected data, working out final proposals and preparing final research report.

Sub-activity 1.4 - Presentation and dissemination of research report and proposals: presenting for Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Social Affairs, and national anti-trafficking roundtable.

Results:

Study on how to evaluate moral damage and how to assess compensation for trafficking victims conducted.

Proposals how to assess the compensation presented to the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Social Affairs, national anti-trafficking roundtable and other relevant parties.

Activity 2 - Research of victims needs in connection with rehabilitation services and clarifying motivation factors that helps to leave the trafficking environment.

Sub-activity 2.1 - Establishment of research team; working out the research methodology (hiring expert such as sociologist).

Sub-activity 2.2 - Data collection.

Sub-activity 2.3 - Data analysis.

Sub-activity 2.4 - Preparation of research report.

Sub-activity 2.5 - Presentation of research results to the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Social Affairs, national anti-trafficking roundtable, and general public. Publishing 2 articles in the media regarding the research results. Presentation of the study to the press, press release and press conference.

Results:

Research on the needs of trafficking victims conducted.

Proposals regarding victim support developments presented to the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Social Affairs, national anti-trafficking roundtable and general public (press event organised).

Activity 3 - Creating self-help group of former victims of trafficking, providing training for group leaders.

Sub-activity 3.1 - Creating self-help group for former victims.

Sub-activity 3.2 - Establishment of the team of group leaders (2-3 persons from the already existing pilot group).

Sub-activity 3.3 - Searching and contacting other self-help group leaders in Norway, collecting theoretical training material for similar self-help groups around Europe and US (at least 5 different examples), organising study visits.

Sub-activity 3.4 - Conducting study visits, exchanging best practices and gaining recommendations on how to create and manage self-help groups.

Sub-activity 3.5 - Implementation of learnt practices into the everyday group activities in Estonia.

Sub-activity 3.6 - Documentation of best practices (including theoretical components) and preparation of activity report (also translating suitable teaching materials into Estonian and Russian). Dissemination of brochures to women who visit the rehabilitation centre and also during outreach work, to inform women about the services available and self-help group. Brochuresdesigned and prepared in Estonian and translated into Russian and English.

Self-help group methodology described and implemented in everyday activity of rehabilitation centre.

Information about services and self-help group available for victims of sexual exploitation (brochures on services and self-help groups prepared both in Estonian and Russian languages, available via outreach work and for women who visit the rehabilitation centre).

Activity 4 - Providing support programme for victims of trafficking and women involved in prostitution (women with children – the child-mother group).

Sub-activity 4.1 - Planning the 1-year program, establishing the work schedule. As this is still piloting phase, programs will be modified and in case of need re-developed for each year.

Sub-activity 4.2 - Implementing the 1-year program.

Sub-activity 4.3 - Documenting the results of the 1-year program, preparing the report.

Sub-activity 4.4 - In the end of the activity, final report will be prepared and best practices highlighted. Explanation.

Background of the women: Studies show that women involved in prostitution have very difficult background. 2/3 only have primary or basic education, 85% are up to 30 years old, only 6% are older than 35 years. Women are involved into prostitution at early age when they are most vulnerable - half by the time they are 18 years old, ¾ up to 21 years. Approximately 40% had their first sexual experience before the age of 15. As many as 93% of the women began their sex life by the time they became 18 years old (that's big difference compared to women in general). Violence is rather inevitable phenomenon in the life of a prostituted woman, which many of them encounter as early as in childhood. 2/3 have experienced psychological, every third physical, and 15% sexual abuse. The most violent towards the respondents have been schoolmates or male acquaintances, but also their fathers and mothers. 55% of women answered that they had been forced to have sex against their will (raped). Two thirds of them experienced forced sex while being under 16 years old. The largest number of rapes concerned girls in the age of 12-14 years. Every third experienced rape in that age span. Half of the women engaged in prostitution have a family on the side. 47% are married/cohabitate or have a steady partner, 53% are single. Every third has children, mostly one child. Current experience of Eluliin indicates that mothers who are victims of trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation and are involved into prostitution at a very early age do not know how to behave maternally, because of their own childhood experience and the lack of care they received from their parents,and the trauma experienced in trafficking process. Mostly they are in need of practical skills on how to take care of a child. Sometimes empathy and emotional connection are missing what would ensure positive and affectionate relationship between a mother and a child. Mothers are with great psychological traumas, which affect their mental health and are reflected in raising a child – children can be inadequately taken care of. Problem with children is also the risk to become object or a subject to a criminal action. Social environment where the mother was raised is the same for the mother, so the risk to become a victim of human trafficking and abuse is very high.

Support programme – The child-mother group: The child-mother group contains of three types of activities:

The child-mother group (once a week): includes exchanging experiences, emotional support and activities to mother, which would teach them how to act with their children.

Short classes about raising a child (twice a month) for mothers to talk about issues concerning raising a child.

Mother-Child summer school (once a year for three days) - activities between mother and a child are introduced. Programme gives mothers knowledge and practical skills and experience to deal with their child. Also it supports both, mother and children, emotionally and socially. It prevents child abuse and abandonment and increases sense of security. Programme is renewed every year to meet the needs of women and the age of children in ATOLL centre and the experience of people working in ATOLL.

Results:

Victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation who have children receive support and learn practical skills on parenting (support programme is implemented for 50 victims and their children).

Children whose mothers have suffered from human trafficking receive better care and protection from their mothers.

The participants of trainings – lawyers, psychologist, psychiatrist and youth workers – are chosen according to their previous work experience and future contact with the topic. Personal interest on the topic is required in order to guarantee sustainability.Training plan is connected to specific knowledge and skills, which Eluliin’s ATOLL center’s employees have acquired in eight years working with the victims. ATOLL center’s specialist, psychologist, psychiatrist, lawyers and social workers share their experience with police, lawyers and psychiatrist.

Trainings and meetings have following goals: 1) To prepare specialist for work in difficult situations, where they must help victims with very severe psychological traumas at the time of psychological and social rehabilitation process (takes at least 3 years), while there is police investigation or criminal process, which can take 3-4 years. 2) To create through training informal specialist network to help the victims in every way needed. As the training is planned from specialists to specialists, who have former contact with the problem, then training plan is specific and includes professional knowledge and experience

Results:

Awareness and skills of specialists risen due to trainings (18 trainings conducted).

Specialist network created, able to help victims of sexual exploitation (12 roundtables conducted).

Activity 6 - Improvement of the conditions of the shelter and of the rehabilitation centre for victims of trafficking.

Sub-activity 6.2 - Regular disinfection of shelter and rehabilitation centre. Explanation Centre’s soft furniture needs professional cleaning. Some clients of ATOLL and Vega have been in unsanitary conditions and for healing, decent environment is needed. In addition, 21% of women (study made by ATOLL centre, has not been published yet) have been infected with HIV, C- and B- hepatitis, and tuberculosis, which makes it important to take care of safety of the employees and other clients of the centre.

Sub-activity 6.3 - Furniture maintenance and repair (also acquisition of new items - furniture,curtains, lights). Explanation The rehabilitation centre has been in use since 2005 and most of the furniture is therefore over 7 years old. The centre is in active use which means furniture gets used up. It is important to replace some of the furniture or make changes in environment to improve rehabilitation conditions.

Additional information: Project management. Project management has a transparent and clear structure. Project activities are divided into six sections. Activities are connected with good and motivated horizontal management and do not require multistage vertical control administration. Each section is managed by one coordinator, who is responsible for the activities listed in the section, and who coordinates these actions, evaluates the development of the section and risks and makes reports. At least once in 6 months meeting of all section managers takes place for general monitoring of fulfillment of project objectives and, if necessary, administrative decision-making. In the end of the project final project report will be prepared and made available for all the interested parties.

Explanation:

External evaluation is ordered twice during the project and it is conducted by authorized auditor.

Projects internal assessment takes place structurally according to activities. Projects comprehensive evaluation takes place according to calendar years. In consideration is execution and implementation of the plan by the year. A criterion is the fulfilling of every activity on time and as planned. Results are described in the projects final report.

Every activity is evaluated by custom assessment. 1) Feedback forms – different to support groups, victims, who have had help from the project. Changed during the training according to needs. 2) Work reports – during studies. 3) Acts – Repair and maintenance work assessment is given over and accepted by these acts. Named assessments give a chance to monitor the quantitative and qualitative performance of activities.

1.juuni 15 Discussing of Estonian and Norwegian approaches to THB, as a social problem: reseaching of topic, approaches to victim`s assistance and reintegration. Oslo University, Department of Criminology and Sociology of Law Oslo Mrs. May-Len Skillbrei (PhD) &group of colleagues

2.6.15 Norwegian model of Referral Mechanism of identification andassistance to victims of trafficking, investigation of cases of trafficking. Discussion Ministry of Justice and Public Security Oslo Mr.Jan Austad

2.6.15 Norway political experience in fighting with problems of Trafficking in Human Beings, sexual exploitation, reintegration of victims. The Storting,NorwegianParliament Oslo Mrs.Sonja Mandt

3.6.15 Implementation of Norway model of law assistance to victims of trafficking in human being in Estonia. Discussing the cosequences of study visit of Norwegian experts Oslo I.Johansen Law Agency experts Gunhild Vehusheia ja Carole Hunn

3.6.15 Norwegian system and regulations regarding compensation to victims of violent crime The Compensation Board for Victims of Violent Crime in Norway Oslo Mrs.Ellen Ystgaard Tjemsland

Roman Krõlov ( Presented research work have been designed and conducted within the frames of Project „Supporting victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation through improving the services provided by the rehabilitation centre Atoll and shelter Vega» РА29. All research work activities have been funded by the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2009-2014 Programme and implemented on base of non-governmental organization Eluliin in cooperation with research expert -Mrs. May-Len Skilbrei, Professor at the Department of Criminology and Sociology of Law, University of Oslo.

Main aim of the research work, was to understand - what rehabilitation services are needed to help victims of trafficking and vulnerable individuals - primarily involved in prostitution, to achieve full recovery of psychological and social skills, that have been damaged, as a result of being in the area of sexual exploitation. According to design of study to achieve the answer on main research question, was needed to find understanding of several follows processes, as: in detailes understand experience of recruitment respondent`s into sphere of trafficking and prostitution: - what exact psychosocial mechanisms are acting during this process? how it works and why it is works with concrete person? which psychosocial changes bring to individual an experience of involvement in sphere of trafficking and prostitution? what is the motivational factors to quit sphere trafficking and prostitution what strategies use person to achieve this? what strategies are successful and which are not? what mechanisms of relapse for person or what makes person coming back to sphere trafficking or prostitution?

Research work have been performed using of two main and two additional methods. Main methods of the study were: a. method of semi structured focus interview and b. method of Repertory Grid Interview based on A. Kelly theory of Personal Constructs As additional methods of data collection, have been used two self-evaluation forms: self-evaluation form of the damages and harms, that have been obtained by the respondent during the period of being in sphere of sexual exploitation self-evaluation form of the different sort of assistance services, that must help person to leave the prostitution Selected methods gave wide opportunities to collect variety of qualitative and quantitative kind of data and use different statistical methods for analysis. Totally have been collected for analysis data of 50 interviews (In-depth focused Interview + Repertory Grid Interview), 25 self-evaluation form of the damages and harms, that have been obtained by the respondent during the period of being in sphere of sexual exploitation, 25 self-evaluation form of the different sort of assistance services, that must help person to leave the prostitution As a respondents in research work took part 25 females, average age 37 y.o. (min: 23 y.o.; max: 53 y.o.) 22 are russian speaking and 3 estonian speaking; 16 of them have been actively involved in in sphere of trafficking and prostitution on a moment of interviewing (period of involvement: from 1 day - 19 years); 9 are quit from sphere of trafficking or prostitution on moment of interview (period of quit: 3 month – 14 years).

In a result of collected and analysed interview`s and questionnaire`s materials was succeed to describe and obtain quantifiable data concerning process of involvement into sphere of trafficking and prostitution, experience of being in this sphere and attempts to quit it. Among the main findings of the done research work can be considered such as: Well examined and described the period of pre-trafficking of respondents.

a.1: In correspondence with other works, current study confirmed the presence of at least one of the types of vulnerabilities (economic, social, psychological vulnerability) of the respondents on a moment of recruitment. Have been found and described substantial influence of psychological vulnerability factor.

a.2: Discovered phenomenon of complex vulnerability of respondents and introduced the terms of “chains of vulnerability” and “initiating” or “trigger event”. Found, that along with several others, crucial role in triggering of vulnerability chain and bring respondents in situation of recruitment, play, such initiating event, as domestic violence.

a.3: Discovered accompanying or environmental factors, which complete respondent`s period of pre-trafficking with situation of involvement into sphere of human trafficking or prostitution. Among this, risk factors have been found: a. trustful personal contact / acquaintance of the respondent with someone from trafficking or prostitution environment at the time of recruitment b. opportunities for recruiters to use the public media channels for the publication of recruitment advertisements c. demand for "sex services" and buyers of sex

b. Found and described general stages of respondents psychosocial changes during the period of being involved in sphere of trafficking and prostitution.

b.1: Have been discovered six stages of involvement such, as: 1. stage of shock and fear 2. stage of „double life“ 3. stage of „game“ 4. stage of „sobering” 5. stage of humility and 6. Stage of „burning out“. Each stage own with individual unique features regarding availability of motivation and psychosocial resources to exit

b.2: Base on the reports of respondents have been found some specific areas of psychosocial changes during the period of being involved in sphere of trafficking and prostitution, such as: a. changes in self-concept and attitudes toward the self b. changes of social network c. behavioral changes in interpersonal relations d. changes of psychological/psychical state e. changes related to addictions and „bad habits“ f. changes in relation toward males g. changes of material well-being, level of income

b.3: knowledge base is supplemented with the results of “self-evaluation form of the damages and harms, that have been obtained by the respondent during the period of being in sphere of sexual exploitation“ Obtained knowledge can be useful and important for planning and implementation exit programmes for persons involved inprostitution and victims of human trafficking for sexual exploitation

c . Have been analysed 31 (thirty-one) successful and un-successful respondent`s attempt of quit sphere trafficking and prostitution. On base of analysis, it was made possible generalizations and found number of patterns. All of them are named and detailed described.

c.1: Have been found 4 (four) main strategies, that used respondents to quit sphere of trafficking and prostitution and most effective of which can be considered such named “Strategy of Inner Desigion”.

c.2: Have been observed and described positive changes, presented by respondents at the post-trafficking stage.

c.3: observed and described main challenges and barriers for successful process of quit prostitution and trafficking among which are: a. challenges connected with social network of respondents b. challenges connected with unproductive behavioral patterns c. challenges connected with “bad habits” in financial behavior d. demotivation role of sex-buyers on stage of quit prostitution or trafficking.

c.4: on base of „self-evaluation form of the different sort of assistance services, that must help person to leave the prostitution“ was presented expectations and views of respondents by themself to sorts and kinds of rehabilitation or assistance services, what are needed to quit sphere of trafficking and prostitution.

c.5: based on the analysis of Repertory Grid Interview managed to get additional and deeper understanding of respondents views and perception of such elements, as “quit prostitution” and “prostitution”, was succeed to find and describe statistically justified interactions between this elements with other elements of Repertory Grid. Results of done research work organized in research final report, translated and edited on Estonian, English and Russian languages.